Protesters have defied the curfew and begun setting vehicles and buildings alight
Continue reading the main story
Egypt has extended its curfew to all cities as anti-government demonstrators in Cairo besiege key buildings, including the foreign ministry and the state broadcaster.
The headquarters of the governing NDP party has been set ablaze.
President Hosni Mubarak, facing the biggest challenge to his authority of his 31 years in power, has ordered the army onto the streets of Cairo.
Earlier, it was announced he would make a statement, but he is yet to appear.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said: "Every minute that goes by without the president making that address to the nation makes him look weaker and will convince people he is losing his grip."
At least 18 protesters - 13 in Suez and five in Cairo - were killed in the violence on Friday, medical sources said. That brings the death toll to at least 26 since the protests began on Tuesday.
An unconfirmed report from the Reuters news agency said as many as 1,030 people may have been injured on Friday.
It's getting massive buzz throughout twitter, youtube with various (but very unsettling clips) of the demonstrations and responses from government officials.
Also
Quote:
Egypt's Internet block aims at social media
Through its broad attempt to shut down Internet communications, Egypt's government has not only successfully blocked Twitter but also significantly limited access to Facebook, Yahoo and Google, as it scrambles to squelch political unrest.
While it's not the first time a government has resorted to censoring online content and blocking Internet access, Egypt's actions have caught the attention of the world because they're out of character and because they've been so aggressive.
"Prior to this incident, the Egyptian government had blocked only minimally: opposition sites, but no social media or international news," said Jillian York, a project coordinator at Harvard University's Berkman Center for Internet & Society, via e-mail.
"The government does not have a central control point for the Internet, which means it must rely on being able to force ISPs to comply," she said, adding that, to her knowledge, there was still one ISP (Internet service provider) operating on Friday afternoon.
The protesters facebook page is interesting to follow.
Atma
Title: Dragoon
Joined: Apr 29 2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 2450
Posted:
Jan 28 2011 06:25 pm
Vaenamoenen wrote:
The protesters facebook page is interesting to follow.
Was just checking out, pretty crazy man.
Weird to be able to see what their people are saying instead of what the News Cast is saying.
The Opponent
Title: Forum Battle WINNER
Joined: Feb 24 2010
Location: The Danger Zone
Posts: 3495
Posted:
Jan 28 2011 06:37 pm
I didn't know Egypt even had internet.
Still, it's gotta suck having the same president for 31 years.
I'm not a bad enough dude, but I am an edgy little shit. I'll do what I can.
Deadmau_5pra
Title: Amatuer film/podcaster
Joined: Feb 10 2009
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 1126
Posted:
Jan 28 2011 07:11 pm
The-Excel wrote:
I didn't know Egypt even had internet.
Still, it's gotta suck having the same president for 31 years.
From what I've read, he's more of a dictator.
Syd Lexia
Site Admin
Title: Pop Culture Junkie
Joined: Jul 30 2005
Location: Wakefield, MA
Posts: 24886
Posted:
Jan 28 2011 07:35 pm
Deadmau_5pra wrote:
The-Excel wrote:
I didn't know Egypt even had internet.
Still, it's gotta suck having the same president for 31 years.
From what I've read, he's more of a dictator.
He is, and Egypt has no one but themselves to blame for it. They assassinated Anwar Sadat, who was actually a pretty progressive leader who was bringing Egypt respect on the international stage, and when his vice president took over, he took a more forceful approach to governance.
I've been watching it on CNN for the past couple hours and I just have to say wow. I've never seen anything like this, the last thing like this that I've seen was when the Pope died and Benedict was put in the pope...
Atma
Title: Dragoon
Joined: Apr 29 2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 2450
Posted:
Jan 29 2011 04:11 am
Seriously, watching some major world history here. As AM said, These people are so passionate.
They're aren't going to quit until they get what they want, and I don't blame them.
Vaenamoenen
Joined: Mar 18 2010
Location: Tuonela
Posts: 299
Posted:
Jan 29 2011 05:36 am
Same as Tunisia, Egypt has been democracy only in theory since their declaration of independence.
I hope Egyptians get their democracy, finally. Democracy was written to the their constitution, when Egypt gained its independence from the UK, during the interwar perioid. Western presence continued in Egypt for decades, however. After WWII many Arab countries felt that western-style goverment represented corruption - not entirely baseless thought, as UK and France were still poking arround Middle East pretty heavily at the time. Not to mention wars with Israel. Add into the mix a bunch of people with a desire for power, and democracy will have a hard time functioning.
sidewaydriver
2010 SLF Tag Champ
Title: ( ͡� 
Joined: May 11 2008
Posts: 6160
Posted:
Jan 29 2011 06:47 am
It's some scary stuff, makes me want to go running to my... mummy!
Ok, I'll go die now.
Shake it, Quake it, Space Kaboom.
Milhouse
Joined: Dec 19 2008
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Posts: 485
Posted:
Jan 30 2011 11:53 am
Displeasure in an Egyptian ruler is not-ankhamon.
Doddsino
Joined: Oct 01 2009
Posts: 5316
Posted:
Jan 30 2011 04:37 pm
1. The way they're acting....
It's not very phar...aoh!!!!
2. What they're doing...
...seems like some sort of pyramid scheme!!!
3. Seems like the President...
....is full of de Nile
*leaves*
FNJ
2010 SLF Tag Champ
Joined: Jun 07 2006
Posts: 12294
Posted:
Jan 30 2011 05:42 pm
Heh, it's nice that Egypt is oppressing someone besides the Jews for once.
Lady_Satine
Title: Head of Lexian R&D
Joined: Oct 15 2005
Location: Metro area, Georgia
Posts: 7287
Posted:
Jan 30 2011 06:45 pm
Doddsino wrote:
1. The way they're acting....
It's not very phar...aoh!!!!
2. What they're doing...
...seems like some sort of pyramid scheme!!!
3. Seems like the President...
....is full of de Nile
*leaves*
The people are so passionate for democRAcy, it's left them Horus!
"Life is a waste of time. Time is a waste of life. Get wasted all the time, and you'll have the time of your life!"
Deadmau_5pra
Title: Amatuer film/podcaster
Joined: Feb 10 2009
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 1126
Posted:
Jan 30 2011 10:55 pm
the purposely bad jokes are making the thread
Deadmau_5pra
Title: Amatuer film/podcaster
Joined: Feb 10 2009
Location: Chicago Area
Posts: 1126
Posted:
Feb 01 2011 08:16 pm
Double post
Murabak wants to step down after the polls
Quote:
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has said he will not stand for re-election in September, as protests against his rule grow.
Speaking on state TV, Mr Mubarak promised constitutional reform, but said he wanted to stay until the end of his current presidential term.
The announcement came as hundreds of thousands rallied in central Cairo urging him to step down immediately.
Later violent clashes erupted in the second city Alexandria.
Shots were fired, as al-Jazeera TV showed apparent street battles between Mubarak supporters and anti-government protesters, as a tank advanced towards them and then withdrew.
The Cairo and Alexandria demonstrations were the biggest since protests began last week.
The BBC's Yolande Knell in Cairo's Tahrir Square says it remains to be seen whether Mr Mubarak's statement is enough for protesters, and adds that it could divide Egyptians.
She says there are some determined to carry on, while others think these are major concessions and that the protests have gone far enough.
Still, it's gotta suck having the same president for 31 years.
From what I've read, he's more of a dictator.
He is, and Egypt has no one but themselves to blame for it. They assassinated Anwar Sadat, who was actually a pretty progressive leader who was bringing Egypt respect on the international stage, and when his vice president took over, he took a more forceful approach to governance.
Well it will be interesting to see what happens from here.
GPFontaine
Joined: Dec 06 2007
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 11244
Posted:
Feb 11 2011 01:45 pm
I hope that the forthcoming infant government will not act like their neighbors and will look to try and be a beacon of peace in the region. The protesters were primarily comprised of intelligent individuals, not crazy rebels. Those are the same people that will hopefully be well represented in the future government.
sidewaydriver
2010 SLF Tag Champ
Title: ( ͡� 
Joined: May 11 2008
Posts: 6160
Posted:
Feb 11 2011 03:55 pm
If I were president and I was forced to resign, my last order would be to have the military attack far more powerful countries that would retaliate with lots of bombs. Then I'd hurry up and get the hell out of there before they attacked.
the purposely bad jokes are making the thread
